Ohio Valley Oil & Gas Association Meeting

Mar. 16, 2017

On Thursday March 9th, Bug-O Systems was in attendance as a Participating Sponsor at the OVOGA Spring General Member Meeting at Belmont College in St. Clairsville, Ohio. Bug-O Systems has been a long-time sponsor of this organization and their events. We feel strongly that this organization is key to us providing new and advanced technology, as well as education to its membership.

Jim Sewell, Environmental Manager for Shell Chemical Appalachian was the guest speaker that evening. More specifically, the project we are speaking about and is gaining so much attention right now is the Ethane Cracker Facility, or also known as the Shell's Petrochemical Project in Monaca, PA. Jim addressed how this plant impacts local businesses as well as how this plant works in cooperation with other potential plants and future investments in the region. Jim also focused on why Shell chose this area. Jim said, “We’re right in the middle of the Marcellus Shale and we’re in the market for that.” “So production in the other stream is taking place.” This project will generate over 400 new jobs and that’s huge to this area. That does not even take into account the jobs and business that will be created by the construction of this plant and local infrastructure, support and regulation needs. Jim also spoke about the current state of construction which is still in its early stages as they continue to work through permits and environmental concerns from the community and government. Those concerns are being dealt with each day and he talked briefly about how the plant extracts various chemicals that make a wide range of everyday products that serve us in the community.

As we have discussed and shared in other newsletters, the UA, Steam Fitters of Pittsburgh have also capitalized on this project and built their 75,000 sf. new training facility directly “down the street” from the Shell Cracker Plant. They opened and started training pipe fitters and welders in February of this year.

Jim’s open discussions and sharing attitude were a welcome sight for the OVOGA and the local community. We look forward to sponsoring more events with OVOGA.